Monday Night Raw 1/11/93
Manhattan Center, New York, NY
- This is the very first episode of the WWE's flagship show, replacing the legendary, yet antiquated Prime Time Wrestling...we are out of the stodgy studio and into the red hot, tightly packed Manhattan Center, overrun by fans thirsty for live televised WWF action, a rarity at the time...this was a necessary move to help freshen the product and deliver legit storyline progression and quality matches on Monday nights...with that, we head down to NYC to kick off the show
- We open outside the arena, where Sean Mooney is discussion the birth of Raw...Bobby Heenan walks by, but Mooney breaks the bad news that Bobby is not part of the Raw broadcast team and therefore, he can't go inside...Bobby says he will buy a ticket, but Mooney informs him that they are sold out...Bobby blames Mooney as we hit the opening animation...rough crowd, they couldn't just let Bobby hang out backstage I guess
- We then head inside the jam packed Manhattan Center, where we are welcomed by Vince McMahon, Randy Savage and Rob Bartlett...Vince runs down tonight's card for us and we get our first taste of Bartlett's "comedy" as he discusses "Yokozuma" and his diaper...Bartlett was a stand up comedian based out of NY that rose to fame on the Don Imus show...Vince wanted to capitalize on his notoriety and capture a little NY flavor, but as we will see, Rob was in over his head with this gig...Savage is awesome as always and gets a dig in on Bartlett right out of of the gate...we then head to the ring for the first match in Raw history
- Koko B. Ware vs. Yokozuna...Koko has his High Energy attire and theme music, which gets the show off to a hot start...Bartlett makes a Gary Coleman reference as we are already off the rails..Mr. Fuji leads out Yoko, who is undefeated in the WWF...Vince puts over all of his skills as Savage notes he has never been knocked off his feet...Bartlett makes the obvious salad bar joke...Yoko is really impressive, especially in this small, tight arena...Barlett calls Yoko a "big butted Oriental" and then says ass, leading to Vince reminding us that we are live and uncut here tonight...we get the infamous camera shot through Yoko's legs as Koko looks on, considering his options...Bartlett thinks Yoko should be wearing a bra...Yoko shoves Koko back off a lockup as we get another Coleman joke...Vince talks about the Royal Rumble, in which Yoko and Savage will be part of...Koko is slow to get up as Yoko manhandles him...Vince reminds us that Koko's partner Owen Hart has been injured by Razor Ramon, who will face Bret Hart at the Rumble...Koko tries to regroup but Yoko is stoic...Yoko swats off two dropkicks and a flying tackle, sending Koko ricocheting off the ropes...Yoko drops a leg, bringing us our first great live reaction from the fans...Yoko shoves Koko into the corner and then squashes him...he shoves Koko back, ascends the middle rope and slams down with the Banzai Drop for the win...impressive squash for the big man...Bartlett notes that record players skipped in Guam during that move, which made me chuckle...Yoko is heading to the Rumble
- After a break, we get our first glimpse of the Raw Girls as Vince sends us to a canned promo from Bobby Heenan, talking about the mysterious Narcissist...he trash talks Mr. Perfect and gushes about the perfection of Narcissist...he will be unveiled at the Rumble...solid promo to build anticipation
- Steiner Brothers vs. Executioners...back to ringside as the Steiners head down the short aisle and into the ring for our next bout...Steiners will face the Beverly Brothers at the Rumble...Bartlett tries to determine which Steiner is Rick...Scott kicks things off as we see Doink the Clown making his way through the crowd...Bartlett calls him "Dork"...Rick tags in and we get a botched Irish whip, but he follows that up with a stiff clothesline and Oklahoma Stampede, which was cool to see...you can tell these guys have no clue how to break down a Steiners match...Bartlett channels his inner Filthball McKenna, calling one of the Executioner a "wussy" for going to the floor...Vince tells us that Mitch Frerotte of the Buffalo Bills is headed to the WWF...some quick research shows that Mitch was a member of three Super Bowl losing Bills teams, playing OL...he hung up the pads in 1993 due to a neck injury in training camp...upon leaving the gridiron, he had wanted to get into wrestling but it never materialized, one would assume thanks to the neck...Frerotte passed away from a massive heart attack in 2008...and yes, he was the cousin of former QB Gus Frerotte...Scott is just tossing both Executioners around, sending one up and over with a double underhook suplex...Scott hoists him up on his shoulders and Rick comes off with a bulldog for the win...fun Steiners squash, natch
- We head back outside where Sean Mooney is still by the door...a security guard has detained an ugly woman, who claims to be Rob Bartlett's Aunt...she is trying to get inside to see Rob, but Mooney reveals this intruder to be Heenan in drag...memorable clip
- Back from break, Vince is in the ring with Razor Ramon for a special interview...Vince notes that Ramon has a golden opporunity at the Rumble, less than two weeks away...Ramon was born ready and is all about gold...Vince notes that it took Bret eight years to get to this point, while Ramon is a Johnny-come-lately...Ramon says Bret is the main man, but now he has to say hello to Razor Ramon, who will catch Bret in just eight months...he is number one contender...Vince asks Ramon why he jumped Owen Hart if he is so great...now we see the clip of the Owen attack as Ramon says he squashed him like a cockroach for fun and there is nothing Bret can do about it...Ramon tells Bret he can't do anything about him taking the gold home at the Rumble...Razor flicks his toothpick at Vince...good interview, to the point and hyped the Rumble well
- Max Moon vs. Shawn Michaels...Shawn's IC title is on the line here...Moon is out first as Bartlett rips on his attire, telling Savage that he is underdressed next to Moon...Shawn is out solo as Sherri is still recovering from the smashed mirror at the hands of Marty Jannetty...Vince discusses Shawn's ego and athleticism as we get under way...Bartlett makes a lame Amy Fisher joke as Moon and Shawn trade holds, with neither gaining an advantage...Moon takes Shawn over with an armdrag, followed by a slam, sending Shawn to the corner to regroup...Vince thinks Moon is a shade quicker than Michaels...Bartlett asks if Shawn will be in the Rumble, but Vince is unsure...Moon grounds Michaels as Bartlett says there will be a Mayor Dinkins vs. Cardinal O'Connor match later tonight...we take a break, and when we return, Shawn has taken control...Shawn misses a charge in the corner but recovers with a stun gun...Bartlett says Shawn pulled a knife during the break, causing Vince to nearly choke on his words to clear that rumor up...Vince now tells us that if Shawn wins here, he will face Jannetty at the Rumble and that Sherri will return there, however we don't know which corner she will be in...Savage muses that she may be in both corners as she may be the toughest of the three...Vince tells us that President Tunney tried to pardon Mike Tyson but failed and that Tyson has a TV and is watching Raw in the clink...Bartlett does a bad Tyson impression...Vince & Savage pretend they are talking to Tyson about Raw...this is terrible, we are twenty minutes in and Bartlett is already played out...Doink is in the aisle now, messing with the fans...Bartlett's Tyson sounds like an old creepy Jewish man, awful impression...Michaels continues to control the match, but the announcers don't seem to care...the Tyson shit is still going on...he says he will be in prison for six years, but this joke feels like it has been going on longer than that already...this match has slowed way down as Shawn grabs a chinlock and Tyson keeps rambling...Moon elbows free as Savage thinks Tyson got a raw deal in his prison sentence...Moon comes back with a rolling senton for a near fall as things finally pick up...Bartlett needs to go away...they had a guy ten times funnier than this hack in Heenan, but he is outside looking in...Shawn ducks a clothesline and hits a back suplex to win the match...this was disappointing with no flow and it was further wrecked by the commentary...Shawn heads to the Rumble
- After a break, Mooney is still on the street where fans are already lined up to get tickets for next week...now a Rabbi tries to force his way in to see his nephew Ron Bartlett...Mooney reveals Heenan once again as we take another break
- Undertaker vs. Damien Demento...Taker's entrance is pretty funny here because of the condensed aisle, he basically takes two strides and is in the ring...he is flanked by the late, great Paul Bearer as always...Vince thanks WFAN for allowing Bartlett to join the Raw booth...I disagree and will now boycott WFAN as a result...Bartlett wonders who the guy with the martini shaker is...Demento shows great courage, walking right up to Taker and just slugging away at him...that is short lived, but still cool to see someone go right at Taker...the Deadman heads to the top rope and crashes off with a clubbing forearm...Vince notes that Taker will be in the Rumble...Vince breaks down next week's card as Demento drops a leaping knee on Taker's head...Taker comes back with a flying clothesline and finished Demento with a Tombstone for the win...I think Demento had some promise, this was short but he had good energy and a unique look
- Taker and Bearer walk off as Vince plugs next week's show one more time, including a steel cage match between Woody Allen and Mia Farrow...we then take our last break
- When we return, Vince is ringside with Doink...Vince notes that Doink likes to make children cry but he has been warned about it by Crush...Doink makes no apologies about his brand of humor...Doink says he will be laughing if Crush were to come...and he gets his wish as Crush saunters out and issues a direct warning to Doink about messing with kids with his lame jokes...Crush tells Doink he will be wearing casts on both legs and arms...Doink squirts him with a water gun, leading to a chase around the ring...Doink slips free and laughs on the floor as Crush paces inside the ring...back outside, Mooney finally lets Heenan into the building as we fade out
- Very fun first episode, despite the mess that is Rob Bartlett...it was refreshing to have live action and a hot crowd...good build towards the Rumble here as well...the template is in place and WWF's evolution continues
Review Date: March 2013
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